The all-new Learjet 45 made its first flight on October 7-32 years to the day after the very first Learjet design-the Model 23-was test flown. In the course of the two-hour flight, the Learjet 45 reached an altitude of 26,000 feet and a speed of 300 knots. The first flight was used to evaluate the aircraft's handling under normal conditions. The flight-test program will involve five aircraft. Certification is scheduled for late 1996.
An all-composite, proof-of-concept aircraft powered by a piston engine in the nose and another in the tail made its public debut at the NBAA convention. Fort Scott, Kansas-based Star Kraft, which has been flying the eight-seat aircraft since February, is looking for additional financing to fund further development and certification. The target price is $1.3 million. Powering the concept vehicle is a pair of 350-hp Continental TCM-550A water-cooled piston engines, but Star Kraft hopes to fly the airplane with a pair of Orenda V-8s in early 1996.
In a move that some feel could drive a wedge in the unified strength of the general aviation industry, the International Business Aviation Council (which represents the NBAA, the European Business Aviation Association [EBAA] and other national business-aviation groups on an international basis) revised its definition of ``business aviation'' to remove any references to its being a part of general aviation.
Terra Corporation of Albuquerque, New Mexico now is marketing a cordless handset for airborne telephone systems. Currently, the handset works only with Terra's Jetfone 3000 or with the AlliedSignal Global Wulfsberg Flitefone VI, but more interfaces are expected to be added. The digital Model C-10 handset features 10 channels, one-touch redialing, muting, a noise-canceling microphone and a handset cradle for wall, shelf, table or armrest.
Here's something to consider adding to the reference library as a timesaver: Federal Aviation Decisions-case-by-case reports interpreting rules and decisions issued by the FAA. The publication also cites FAA civil penalty decisions.
You can sum up John Rahilly's strategy for KC Aviation in one word: growth. Rahilly was named president of the maintenance, completions and charter-services company in late July, succeeding Richard Emery, one of the longtime fixtures in the business. However, Rahilly is no stranger to KC. He's been with the company for 12 years, including a five-year stint as general manager of the Appleton, Wisconsin facility. Prior to assuming the post of president, Rahilly was vice president of marketing and sales.
AlliedSignal's General Aviation Avionics division introduced the GNS-Xls, a larger screen version of the GNS-X single-box flight management system family. The new FMS has a 5.5-inch, full-color, flat-panel liquid-crystal-display screen. Similar to the GNS-X, the Xls will have an internally mounted, eight-channel, GPS Xpress satellite navigation receiver that will enable the new FMS to earn TSO C129 A1/B1/C1 non-precision approach certification. The display, however, is limited to alphanumeric characters.
Embraer Aircraft Corporation (Fort Lauderdale, FL)-Samuel D. Hill is the new president of this U.S. subsidiary of Embraer, a Brazil-based manufacturer of regional aircraft.
There is a war in the skies over Europe, but it does not have to do with Fokkers and Sopwith Camels . . . well, maybe sort of. It does involve Fokkers, but the war is one of words and exactly who dominates the skies over Europe in terms of regional jets. ``In reaction to a gross misrepresentation in a recent press release issued by Avro International Aerospace, Fokker feels it necessary to set the record straight,'' the Dutch manufacturer said in recent press release of its own.
The NBAA chose this year's convention in late September as the venue to introduce its new Internet web site. Like many other businesses and organizations, the NBAA has joined the ``Internet Revolution'' and opened an electronic site, enabling its members and the public to contact the organization via personal computer. While anyone equipped with a PC, a modem and inexpensive Internet software (called a ``browser'') can visit the new ``home page,'' only NBAA members will be able to use all the features it provides.
New-start regional jet carrier ``air 21'' has turned to the Fokker F28 as its centerpiece, the Fresno, California-based company has announced. Chairman and CEO Mark Morro said the first two Series 4000 twinjets were delivered in September. An additional 12 airplanes will be delivered during the following months, he added. Air 21 had initially planned to utilize DC-9s.
FBO Resource Group (Denver)-George F. Brewer, a veteran FAA executive who retired from the agency as manager of the Denver Airport Development Office, has joined this FBO consultant company.
New from The Fab Shop is the Towmaster Model 1000 all-electric tow cart, with a built-in recharging system. One person can operate the tug, and it ``is capable of moving small aircraft up to 15,000 pounds into tight spots.'' The Model 1000's ground power unit is capable of handling either 12- or 14-volt systems. Other standard features allow for safety, security and nighttime operations. Price: $3,995. The Fab Shop, 400 N. Walnut, McPherson, KS 67460. (316) 241-1570.
Canadair's Challenger 604, which received Transport Canada certification on September 20, topped several of its performance targets. Canadair claims that range is now 4,060 nm, empty weight is 200 pounds lighter, takeoff length is 440 feet shorter and landing distance is down 275 feet. Canadair also introduced a three-year/3,000-hour warranty package on the entire airframe and all systems. The primary airframe structure warranty was boosted to 10 years/10,000 hours. FAA certification was expected by the end of October.
Final results from flight tests this spring at the FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey confirmed that a Federal Express Boeing 727 made 100 ``hands off'' Category III approaches guided by DGPS signals, according to data issued by the FAA and Wilcox Electric. All the autolandings and sensor accuracies were within a 95-percent accuracy zone set by the FAA.
Support for the worldwide fleet of 425 IAI Jet Commanders, Westwinds and Astras is on the verge of getting a significant boost, according to Israel Aircraft Industries. ``Several million dollars'' will be spent to increase the manpower dedicated to both spares and technical support. Also, IAI will rewrite all maintenance and technical manuals and parts pricing catalogs to ``make them clearer and more concise.'' Meanwhile, service hours at IAI's main customer support center have been extended, and early in 1996, the company plans to open a spares facility on the U.S.
With just a few hours between the events, the FAA, in a brief ceremony, granted one-year-old Alliance Engines its repair station certificate, and the company opened its first work order.
Phoenix-based Garrett Aviation Services is working on marketing a hush-kit program aimed at bringing Lockheed JetStar IIs and 731 JetStars into compliance with FAR Part 36, Stage 3 noise standards. An STC, being developed by Star 3 STC, Incorporated (a new California-based company), is expected in December. Meanwhile, Quiet Nacelle of Miami is nearing completion of its four-year effort with Britain's Aravco to certificate a Stage 3 hush kit in BAC 1-11s (B/CA, October 1992, page 22). The BAC 1-11 400 series is now scheduled to be certificated in June 1996.
National Flight Services, the Tampa, Florida company that has been overhauling TPE331 engines for nearly two decades, received an STC for modifications that ``significantly increase compressor section efficiency'' for TPE331-1 and -2 series turboprops.
Care Flight, the emergency medical helicopter program of northern Nevada's Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority (REMSA), based in Reno, is the first EMS provider to place a McDonnell Douglas MD900 Explorer into operation as an emergency medical transport aircraft. Previously, REMSA had leased an Alouette helicopter from Rocky Mountain Helicopters, which will now provide all maintenance and service functions for the Explorer.
Two U.S. turboprop sales were recorded in September 1995-one Beech King Air C90B and one King Air 350. Ten new sales were listed during September 1994. There were 36 resales compared to 78 in September 1994. Beech listed 21, Piper six, and three used Mitsubishi turboprops sold. Gulfstream and Swearingen each sold two used models and Cessna and SOCATA both posted single resales.
